Wicklow 200 2011

Inquitus · 10-06-2011 09:58AM

daragh_ wrote: »

There are whole hours there with no rain at all. Plenty of time to dry out before the next deluge.

It's the 40-50kph average wind speeds that worry me, heavens knows what it will gust at! This is Ireland, rain is like water off a ducks back to us.

manwithaplan · 10-06-2011 10:01AM

smacl wrote: »

So it's not compulsory, but may be needed if you want a published time.

Thanks - must read those emails.

Delays! At my awesome pace, they will still be polishing the cutlery and ironing the table linen when I arrive at the food stops. The scanners will be thanking me for their first business of the day.

Some of the above may not be entirely true.

daragh_ · 10-06-2011 10:06AM

Inquitus wrote: »

It's the 40-50kph average wind speeds that worry me, heavens knows what it will gust at! This is Ireland, rain is like water off a ducks back to us.

After the Mick Byrne the wind owes me a favour. Also I sacrificed a goat so I should be ok.

smacl · 10-06-2011 10:13AM

Inquitus wrote: »

It's the 40-50kph average wind speeds that worry me, heavens knows what it will gust at! This is Ireland, rain is like water off a ducks back to us.

The main section where you have a lot of wind exposure is the military road / sally gap before the descent into Kilbride. Current met forecast has the worst of the wind later in the day, so may not be an issue. SE and SM are up and down affairs, you're not spending too long in very exposed conditions. For me, I'll be taking it very easy on the descents, but then I'm a wuss at downhill anyway. The rest is just a slog, but then the wind may be behind us at some point as well.

seamus · 10-06-2011 10:20AM

If it's been raining, all of the descents will be taking it very easy. The SE wind will be good to carry us home from Avoca though.

smacl · 10-06-2011 10:49AM

Take your weight by the number of hours expected to complete the W200

So, I'm going to need ~800-900g of carbs. That is one serious stash of bars, beans, bananas and Hi5. Even allowing for a bowl of porridge before starting, I'm either going to need panniers or hire a chip van as a support vehicle. Might be taking a little detour after SE to the hippy cafe.

daragh_ wrote: »

Also I sacrificed a goat so I should be ok.

Excellent. Kebabs at Rathdrum so, looking forward to it! Any chance of a bag of chips alongside? That should sort the carbs issue nicely.

Actual plan, 6xtorq bars, 2xsports beans, 2 spare scoops of hi5 for bottle refills and a couple of bananas. Comes out at about 580g or carbs on the road, plus another 150g in porridge beforehand. Did 140k with SE & SM comfortably on 2 bars, 1 beans, 2 bananas, 2 bottles of hi5 and a hippy cafe brownie a couple of weeks ago. Not too bothered with sangers at the stops, though cake would nice. FWIW, I'm 81kg, 45 years, average fitness (?), and riding a heavy enough hybrid/cross bike. Personally, I find eating and drinking plenty 30mins before starting makes all the difference.

I'm not convinced about the body weight by hours thing as it doesn't take account of many external variables such as weight of bike, average gradient, wind resistance, fitness of rider, etc...

ROK ON · 10-06-2011 10:51AM

seamus wrote: »

If it's been raining, all of the descents will be taking it very easy. The SE wind will be good to carry us home from Avoca though.

Like fu*k will I take it easy on the descents. I am not crawling up the climbs at caterpillar pace only to go slow on the descents.

I really am not looking forward to this. I have no idea why I signed up. I detest long cycles. What was I thinking.
4 hours is plenty long for any sane person to be on a bicycle.
(I may do half tomorrow, and the other half on Sunday:rolleyes:)

stas · 10-06-2011 10:53AM

Sure there'll be two sandwich stops and shops on the way. Not personally worried about the food, more about my poor bum having to endure the 10 hour punishment.

ROK ON · 10-06-2011 10:54AM

smacl wrote: »

Actual plan, 6xtorq bars, 2xsports beans, 2 spare scoops of hi5 for bottle refills and a couple of bananas. Comes out at about 580g or carbs on the road, plus another 150g in porridge beforehand. Did 140k with SE & SM comfortably on 2 bars, 1 beans, 2 bananas, 2 bottles of hi5 and a hippy cafe brownie a couple of weeks ago. Not too bothered with sangers at the stops, though cake would nice. FWIW, I'm 81kg, 45 years, average fitness (?), and riding a heavy enough hybrid/cross bike. Personally, I find eating and drinking plenty 30mins before starting makes all the difference.

If you eat all of that you will more than likely be very very ill that evening.
People actually need to eat a lot less than you think on a bike.
You will have two lunch stops at 70K and 150k. That plus a few bars will see you thru the day. Just keep drinking.

smacl · 10-06-2011 11:03AM

ROK ON wrote: »

If you eat all of that you will more than likely be very very ill that evening.

Ah c'mon, I've been off the booze for weeks, at least allow me my sweeties on the day. tbh, I find bars / flapjacks / bananas etc... way easier to handle than sandwiches while taking exercise, but that could just be me. How much of what I bring I'll actually use I don't know, but I'd rather have a surplus than run out.

iregk · 10-06-2011 11:17AM

manwithaplan wrote: »

There's pasta? And a finishers' tent?

Woman, cancel the dinner.

There is and it's actually quite nice. Just thinking last year it started to rain when we were going into the tent and then bucketed down while in there!

EMPM · 10-06-2011 11:58AM

Are there any people on here doing the 100 or will i be one of the few continuing up the long hill and on to roundwood

hf4z6sqo7vjngi · 10-06-2011 11:59AM

seamus wrote: »

Really? Cos for someone my size, that's a lot of carbs. 25 nutrigrains by my count. :eek:

Or maybe it means I've been seriously undereating while riding...

Obviously if you eat 25 nutrigrains you will need to be wheeled off the course:D. Energy gels provide an easy alternative although if you have not tried them before during training rides best not to start now.
Simple fact is if your not taking enough carbs on the day your glycogen levels will drop and you could end up bonking.

stas wrote: »

Sure there'll be two sandwich stops and shops on the way. Not personally worried about the food, more about my poor bum having to endure the 10 hour punishment.

I would take the sore bum every time rather than under fueling on a long ride.

ROK ON wrote: »

People actually need to eat a lot less than you think on a bike. You will have two lunch stops at 70K and 150k. That plus a few bars will see you thru the day. Just keep drinking.

Not so true its clinically proven your body can only store limited carbs so if you are not replenishing at the correct rate through what will be a long day in the saddle then the last few hours will be a nightmare.

Plenty of articles out there to read up on this stuff!! Any way enjoy your day and hopefully the weather holds up for us.

HivemindXX · 10-06-2011 12:30PM

EMPM wrote: »

Are there any people on here doing the 100 or will i be one of the few continuing up the long hill and on to roundwood

I will be. Last years stats indicate around 770 people did the 100 out of around 2,000 entrants so you won't be too lonely.

Personlly I think the 100 people are better. More relaxed and fun and they don't make me feel bad by being so much faster and thinner than me.

Yi Harr · 10-06-2011 01:20PM

HivemindXX wrote: »

I will be. Last years stats indicate around 770 people did the 100 out of around 2,000 entrants so you won't be too lonely.

Personlly I think the 100 people are better. More relaxed and fun and they don't make me feel bad by being so much faster and thinner than me.

Yup, I will too. Just broke my first century this week so I think doing the 200 would be pushing it.

Plenty of time to start training for the 200 next year.

bbolger · 10-06-2011 01:32PM

stas wrote: »

Sure there'll be two sandwich stops and shops on the way. Not personally worried about the food, more about my poor bum having to endure the 10 hour punishment.

A big dollop of this & you'll be fine:
Assos chamois cream

ckeego · 10-06-2011 02:19PM

bbolger wrote: »

A big dollop of this & you'll be fine:
Assos chamois cream

I took delivery of some of this the other day and applied a "dollop" yesterday morning prior to a quick jaunt up SE and SM from Laragh...Jaysus, the knackers were frozen off me!! The hailstones on SM were a relief!!! More designed for Continental temperatures, me thinks!!!

In retrospect, the tag DOES mention cooling properties,it just felt like iofreeze!!

daragh_ · 10-06-2011 02:25PM

ckeego wrote: »

I took delivery of some of this the other day and applied a "dollop" yesterday morning prior to a quick jaunt up SE and SM from Laragh...Jaysus, the knackers were frozen off me!! The hailstones on SM were a relief!!! More designed for Continental temperatures, me thinks!!!

In retrospect, the tag DOES mention cooling properties,it just felt like iofreeze!!

Bit of Embrocation Cream will sort you out.

FrankGrimes · 10-06-2011 02:32PM

What's the general time people are starting at on Sunday - 6, 6.30? With the likely wind it'd be good to get out when some decent groups are forming, so I was reckoning a 6.30 start but interested to hear what the general approach is.

Inquitus · 10-06-2011 02:34PM

I am new to this whole WW200 business, I am going to aim to arrive in the car at 6am and set off as soon as I get setup and scanned out etc.

daragh_ · 10-06-2011 02:36PM

FrankGrimes wrote: »

What's the general time people are starting at on Sunday - 6, 6.30? With the likely wind it'd be good to get out when some decent groups are forming, so I was reckoning a 6.30 start but interested to hear what the general approach is.

Plan to be leaving Greystones just after 7. Roughly.

Did you get your bike sorted?

see you did!

Cookie_Monster · 10-06-2011 03:10PM

hopefully will be on the road at 6, get going early to avoid some of the weather and the rush

Though knowing me, I'll only be getting up at 6...

smacl · 10-06-2011 03:27PM

Should at Greystones shortly before 7, and head off as soon as I get scanned. No plans to get involved in any groups, but no doubt will be chatting to many on route. I'll be on a Kellys cross bike with front suspension, in DHB gear, with either a high vis gilet or rain jacket. Say hi when you're passing!

Lusk Doyle · 10-06-2011 04:02PM

smacl wrote: »

I'll be on a Kellys cross bike with front suspension

Planning on finishing on Monday are we...:rolleyes:

seamus · 10-06-2011 04:08PM

Had planned to set off at 8. Looking at accuweather, it doesn't seem to matter whether you leave at 6, 7 or 8, you'll still get the same amount of rainy hours. Though it would be nicer to get rained on at the start when you're fresh, than the horrible middle part when you're tired but still know you have 3/4 hours to go.

Also the wind appears to be at it's worst between 10am and 2pm. So if you set off at 8, it'll be hammering you just as you make the trip over SM & SE. If you leave at 6am, you should be en route to Avoca as the worst hits.

All in all, it looks like it's going to be tough no matter what time you leave. That alone might be justification enough to leave earlier and get home earlier. Think I'll switch to 7am, even though I'm going to an engagement party tomorrow night. Just one pint of Guinness, seriously.

In terms of groups, from the other event I've done and various spins, I prefer to be on my own when I'm fresh, but enjoy the company later on. Being alone and wet, tired & sore is not much fun. But having company can help you forget about the tired & sore.

What were people's experiences of the last ones? Do people tend to congregate in Rathdrum and then head off in a big group, or separate out more towards the end of the event?

Blowfish · 10-06-2011 04:13PM

FrankGrimes wrote: »

What's the general time people are starting at on Sunday - 6, 6.30? With the likely wind it'd be good to get out when some decent groups are forming, so I was reckoning a 6.30 start but interested to hear what the general approach is.

Last year I left at not long after 6.30. I wasn't exactly going amazingly fast, but still ended up from Avoca on not seeing any other cyclists at all. Starting a bit later than I did might not be a bad idea if you want to get more opportunities for groups.

seamus wrote: »

What were people's experiences of the last ones? Do people tend to congregate in Rathdrum and then head off in a big group, or separate out more towards the end of the event?

It varies, though if you want groups, it's the clubs in particular who tend to stick together.

daragh_ · 10-06-2011 04:26PM

Last year leaving at 7. Massive group all the way up as far as Powerscourt Montain. That climb broke it all up and it was smaller groups all the way around until the first food stop, so I was mostly on my own. I tagged along with whoever after that but it was pretty random. Got passed by loads of big club groups sharing the work.

smacl · 10-06-2011 04:27PM

Lusk Doyle wrote: »

Planning on finishing on Monday are we...:rolleyes:

I've got it easy, my brother in-laws doing it on a full sus MTB, though he'll still probably finish an hour ahead of me.

bbolger · 10-06-2011 04:34PM

For the SwordsCC people on here, there's a plan to get a group photo and then head off at 7am.

manwithaplan · 10-06-2011 05:47PM

bbolger wrote: »

For the SwordsCC people on here, there's a plan to get a group photo and then head off at 7am.

Might make that (and then strip off my swords jersey and replace it with a winter training jacket!).

Wicklow 200 2011

Comments